U.S. patent application number 09/984459 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-07 for electronic purse application system and method thereof.
Invention is credited to Aizawa, Iwao, Inoue, Masayuki, Itoh, Shigeyuki, Matsumoto, Kenji, Takami, Yutaka.
Application Number | 20020029380 09/984459 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15567677 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020029380 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsumoto, Kenji ; et
al. |
March 7, 2002 |
Electronic purse application system and method thereof
Abstract
On the basis of information which is the standard for
transaction conditions such as amount information in an IC card as
well as age information registered in the IC card or a
predetermined contract destination, a transaction when electronic
money is used and restrictions and conditions for program audience
are automatically set.
Inventors: |
Matsumoto, Kenji;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Itoh, Shigeyuki; (Zushi-shi,
JP) ; Takami, Yutaka; (Yokohama-shi, JP) ;
Inoue, Masayuki; (Fujisawa-shi, JP) ; Aizawa,
Iwao; (Yokohama-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONELLI TERRY STOUT AND KRAUS
SUITE 1800
1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
ARLINGTON
VA
22209
|
Family ID: |
15567677 |
Appl. No.: |
09/984459 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09984459 |
Oct 30, 2001 |
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08872555 |
Jun 10, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/1 ;
705/41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/108 20130101;
G06Q 20/105 20130101; G06Q 20/4014 20130101; G06Q 40/04 20130101;
G06Q 20/20 20130101; G06Q 20/06 20130101; G06Q 20/1085 20130101;
G07F 7/025 20130101; G06Q 20/342 20130101; G06Q 20/102 20130101;
G06Q 20/10 20130101; G06Q 20/204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/1 ;
705/41 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/16; G06F
017/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 14, 1996 |
JP |
8-153673 |
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An electronic purse application system comprising: an IC card
for storing electronic money information and information for giving
transaction conditions using electronic money; IC card read/write
means for reading and writing information stored in said IC card;
input means for inputting transaction information using electronic
money; means for storing standard information for judging approval
or disapproval of transaction desired by an owner of said IC card;
means for deciding approval or disapproval of transaction inputted
by said input means on the basis of said information for giving
transaction conditions which is read by said IC card read/write
means and said standard information stored in said storage means;
and means for updating electronic money information in said IC card
depending on the charge for said transaction on the basis of said
information for giving transaction conditions when said decision by
said deciding means is approval.
2. An electronic purse application system comprising: an IC card
for storing electronic money information, an encryption key signal
for decrypting encrypted data, and age information; IC card
read/write means for reading and writing information stored in said
IC card; input means for inputting transaction information using
electronic money; means for storing standard information for
judging approval or disapproval of transaction desired by an owner
of said IC card; means for deciding approval or disapproval of
transaction inputted by said input means on the basis of said age
information which is read by said IC card read/write means and said
standard information stored in said storage means; and means for
updating electronic money information in said IC card depending on
the charge for said transaction when said decision by said deciding
means is approval.
3. An electronic purse application system according to claim 1,
wherein said information for giving transaction conditions in said
IC card is age information of an owner of said IC card.
4. An electronic purse application system according to claim 1,
wherein said standard information stored in said storage means is
age information indicating approval or disapproval of a
predetermined transaction.
5. An electronic purse application system according to claim 2,
wherein said standard information stored in said storage means is
age information indicating approval or disapproval of a
predetermined transaction.
6. An electronic purse application system according to claim 2,
further comprising; decrypting means for decrypting at least one of
video, audio, and control signal constituting a program; means for
decrypting, when a program is selected as a transaction inputted by
said input means and the decision by said deciding means is
approval, said selected program by said decrypting means on the
basis of said encryption key signal; and means for subtracting the
charge for said program selection from said electronic money
information in said IC card.
7. An electronic purse application system according to claim 3,
wherein when said age information of said owner of said IC card
indicates a transactable age, said electronic money information in
said IC card is updated depending on the charge for said
transaction.
8. An electronic purse application system comprising: an IC card
for storing electronic money information, an encryption key signal
for decrypting encrypted data, and age information; IC card
read/write means for reading and writing information stored in said
IC card; input means for inputting transaction information using
electronic money; a decoder for decrypting at least one of video,
audio, and control signal constituting a program; a center device
connected to said decoder via a public circuit network. storage
means in said center device for storing standard information for
judging approval or disapproval of audience of a program selected
by an owner of said IC card; means for deciding approval or
disapproval of audience of said program selected by said input
means on the basis of said age information which is read by said IC
card read/write means and said standard information stored in said
center device; means for decrypting said selected program by said
decoder on the basis of said encryption key signal when said
decision by said deciding means is approval; and means for
subtracting the charge for said selected program from said
electronic money information in said IC card.
9. An electronic purse application system according to claim 8,
wherein when said standard information stored in said center device
is age information indicating approval or disapproval of audience
of a predetermined program and said age information of said owner
of said IC card indicates an age capable of audience of said
program, said electronic money information in said IC card is
subtracted depending on the charge for said selected program.
10. An electronic purse application system comprising: an IC card
for storing electronic money information and information for giving
transaction conditions using electronic money; IC card read/write
means for reading and writing information stored in said IC card;
input means for selecting a good to be purchased using electronic
money; goods pick up controller for controlling picking up of said
good; price information storage means for storing selling price
information of said good; means for storing standard information
for judging approval or disapproval of selling of a good desired by
an owner of said IC card; means for deciding approval or
disapproval of selling of said good selected by said input means on
the basis of said information for giving transaction conditions
which is read by said IC card read/write means and said standard
information stored in said storage means; means for picking up said
selected good by said goods pick up controller when said decision
by said deciding means is approval; and means for subtracting the
selling price of said picked-up good from said electronic money
information in said IC card.
11. An electronic purse application system according to claim 10,
wherein when said standard information stored in said storage means
is age information indicating approval or disapproval of selling of
a predetermined good and said age information of said owner of said
IC card who selects said good indicates an age capable of selling
of said good, the selling price of said selected good is subtracted
from said electronic money information in said IC card.
12. An electronic purse application system comprising: an IC card
for storing electronic money information and information for giving
transaction conditions using electronic money; IC card read/write
means for reading and writing information stored in said IC card;
input means for selecting a ticket to be purchased using electronic
money; ticket issue control means for controlling issue of said
ticket; ticket issue charge processing means for calculating an
issue charge of said ticket; means for storing standard information
for calculating an issue charge of a ticket desired by an owner of
said IC card; means for deciding a selling price of said ticket
selected by said input means on the basis of said information for
giving transaction conditions which is read by said IC card
read/write means and said standard information stored in said
storage means; and means for subtracting said decided selling price
of said ticket from said electronic money information in said IC
card.
13. An electronic purse application system according to claim 12,
wherein said standard information stored in said storage means is
age information for deciding a selling price of a predetermined
ticket and said selling price of said ticket is subtracted from
said electronic money information in said IC card on the basis of
said age information of said owner of said IC card who selects said
ticket and said standard information.
14. An electronic purse application system according to claim 1,
wherein said standard information stored in said storage means is
at least one attribute information of said owner of said IC
card.
15. An electronic purse application system according to claim 14,
wherein said attribute information is the date of birth of said
owner of said IC card.
16. An electronic purse application system according to claim 1,
wherein said standard information stored in said storage means is
information indicating whether transaction desired by said owner of
said IC card is legal or not.
17. An electronic purse application system according to claim 1,
wherein said standard information is stored in said IC card.
18. An electronic purse use method in an electronic purse system
having an IC card for storing electronic money information and
information for giving transaction conditions using electronic
money comprising: a step of reading said information for giving
transaction conditions from said IC card by IC card read/write
means; a step of deciding approval or disapproval of transaction
inputted by input means for inputting said transaction information
using electronic money on the basis of said information for giving
transaction conditions which is read by said reading step and
prestored standard information; and a step of updating said
electronic money information in said IC card depending on the
charge for said transaction on the basis of said information for
giving transaction conditions when the decision by said deciding
step is approval.
19. An electronic purse use method in an electronic purse system
having an IC card for storing electronic money information, an
encryption key signal for decrypting encrypted data, and age
information comprising: a step of reading said information for
giving transaction conditions from said IC card by IC card
read/write means; a step of deciding approval or disapproval of
transaction inputted by input means for inputting said transaction
information using electronic money on the basis of said age
information which is read by said reading step and prestored
standard information; and a step of updating said electronic money
information in said IC card depending on the charge for said
transaction when the decision by said deciding step is approval.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a system and method thereof
using the standard information for judging approval or disapproval
and conditions of transaction when carrying out transactions using
an electronic purse system and more particularly to an electronic
purse application system and method thereof having electronic money
information as well as age information of an owner in an IC
card.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] At present, an alcoholic drink or cigarette vending machine
uses cash for clearing. However, when a minor attempts to buy
alcoholic drinks or cigarettes, the selling cannot be stopped, so
that countermeasures such as stopping of selling at night are
taken. In a pay TV broadcast such as CS broadcast or CATV, the
charge for a program selected by a TV viewer is withdrawn from a
bank using a credit card. Also in this case, countermeasures such
as inputting of a code number are taken so as to prevent a child
from watching an adult program. However, in either case mentioned
above, selling to a minor cannot be prevented perfectly.
[0005] On the other hand, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Application 3-92966, a perfect cashless transaction by an
electronic purse system using an IC card has been examined. This is
a system that if amount information which is optionally designated
is written into a memory in an IC card and necessary amount
information is sent from the IC card for clearing, the transaction
can be completed without using cash.
[0006] As digital broadcasting and Internet advance these days,
program limiting to minors is an important problem. Also with
respect to selling of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, selling by
vending machines at night is stopped at present. However, there is
a problem imposed that setting to minors cannot be prevented
perfectly. Furthermore, clearing when the amount of charge is
different between an adult and a child such as a railroad or bus
fare or a theater entrance fee also comes into a problem for
automation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to eliminate the
difficulties of the prior arts mentioned above and to provide an
electronic purse application system and method thereof for allowing
appropriate use of electronic money in automatic consideration of
restrictions and conditions due to the age of a user and guarantee
and discrimination of his status when electronic money is to be
used.
[0008] By doing this, it is attempted to automatically prevent
selling to a minor and a disqualified transaction by discriminating
the age information and others at the time of clearing by
electronic money.
[0009] To accomplish the above object, the present invention is an
electronic purse system and a method thereof having an IC card for
storing electronic money information and information for giving
transaction conditions using electronic money, wherein the
information for giving transaction conditions is read from the IC
card by an IC card read/write means, and the approval or
disapproval of transaction inputted by an input means for inputting
transaction information using electronic money is decided on the
basis of the aforementioned read information for giving transaction
conditions and the prestored standard information. When the
decision is approval, the electronic money information in the IC
card is updated by the charge for the transaction on the basis of
the information for giving transaction information.
[0010] More concretely, the present invention comprises an
automatic transaction terminal having an IC card for storing
electronic money information, age information such as owner's age
or date of birth, and others, an IC card read/write means for
reading and writing information of the IC card, an IC card control
means for controlling mounting and ejection of the IC card, an
input means for selecting a good, a sales amount information
storage means for storing electronic money information equivalent
to the amount of the good, a good pick up control means for
controlling picking-up of the good, and a processing means for
judging approval or disapproval of selling of the good.
[0011] Only when the age information of the owner of the IC card is
equivalent to the age for which the desired good can be sold as a
result of judgment by the processing means, the electronic money
equivalent to the amount of the good is subtracted from the IC card
and stored in the sales amount information storage means and the
good is picked up from the automatic transaction terminal by the
good pick up control means.
[0012] As mentioned above, according to the present invention, by
storing electronic money information as well as age information of
the owner of an IC card and others in the IC card, it is possible
to discriminate this age information at the time of transaction and
clear the charge. Therefore, selling of alcoholic drinks or
cigarettes to a minor can be prevented. In a pay TV broadcast, when
the balance of an IC card of a viewer is shorted or the age of an
owner of an IC card is under age limit of a program, the release of
scrambling can be stopped automatically. Furthermore, this can be
applied also to clearing when the amount of charge is different
between an adult and a child such as a railroad or bus fare or a
theater entrance fee.
[0013] The foregoing and other objects, advantages, manner of
operation and novel features of the present invention will be
understood from the following detailed description when read in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment when the present invention is
applied to clearing in a pay TV broadcast.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an example of the operation flow on the viewer
side when the present invention is applied to clearing in a pay TV
broadcast.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment when the present invention is
applied to an alcoholic drink or cigarette vending machine.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation flow of a customer
when the present invention is applied to a alcoholic drinks or
cigarette vending machine.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment when the present invention is
applied to a vending machine for admission tickets of a theater or
others.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation flow of a customer
when the present invention is applied to an admission ticket
vending machine.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment that age information in an IC
card is updated in the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 8 shows an example that data is sent or received
between IC cards in the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment when the present invention
is applied to clearing in a pay TV broadcast.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The embodiments of the present invention will be explained
by referring to FIGS. 1 to 9.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a pay TV broadcasting system
using the present invention, which is a system storing encryption
key information for releasing scrambling of video, audio, and
control signal and amount information for amount approval in an IC
card. By storing age information such as the age or date of birth
of an owner and others in the IC card and using age limit
information which is sent in a pay TV broadcast at the same time,
the system can make the encryption key unusable automatically when
the balance is shorted or a child attempts to watch an adult
program. As a result, the scrambling is not released and a viewer
cannot watch the program.
[0025] Numeral 1 indicates a broadcaster and management company, 2
video, audio, and control signal, 3 a scrambler, 4 a scramble key
& program information encryptor, 5 a scramble key information
storage, 6 a program information storage, 7 an encryption key
storage, 8 a transmitting antenna, 9 a communication satellite, 10
a receiving antenna, 11 a decoder, 12 a tuner, 13 a descrambler, 14
a system controller, 15 a line controller, 16 an IC card
controller, 17 an input unit, 18 a connector, 19 an IC card, 20 a
connector, 21 a scramble key & program information decryptor,
22 an encryption key storage, 23 an account approval processor, 24
an amount information storage, 25 an ID information storage, and 26
an age information storage.
[0026] In this embodiment, information is transferred to a viewer
from a broadcaster using a communication satellite. However,
broadcasting by ground waves such as VHF and UHF or broadcasting
using cables such as CATV may be used.
[0027] Firstly, a broadcaster and management company will be
explained in detail. Video, audio, and control signal to be
transferred to a viewer are outputted from a data bank 2 and
encrypted by the scrambler 3. In this case, each signal is
encrypted by the scramble key stored in the scramble key
information storage 5 according to a predetermined rule.
[0028] Together with this scramble key, program information such as
a program guide and contract information stored in the program
information storage 6 is encrypted by the scramble key &
program information encryptor 4. Also in this case, program
information is encrypted by the encryption key stored in the
encryption key storage 7 according to a predetermined rule in the
case of encryption. When an age limit is included in a program to
be sent, the information on age limit is encrypted as the
aforementioned program information.
[0029] These encrypted data are sent to the communication satellite
9 by the transmitting antenna 8 and resent to a viewer from the
communication satellite thereafter.
[0030] Next, the viewer side will be explained in detail. When a
viewer inserts the IC card 19 into the decoder 11, he can receive
services. Firstly, various data sent from the communication
satellite are received by the receiving antenna 10 and supplied to
the decoder 11. Among them, data encrypted by the scrambler 3 is
processed by the tuner 12, while data encrypted by the scramble key
& program information encryptor 4 is processed by the scramble
key & program information decryptor 21 in the IC card.
[0031] In the case of processing by the decryptor 21, data is
decrypted by the encryption key stored in the encryption key
storage 22 according to a predetermined rule. This encryption key
is managed by the management company in a uniform manner, so that a
viewer who is not under contract with the management company cannot
decrypt data by the decryptor 21.
[0032] Among data decrypted by the scramble key & program
information decryptor 21, the scramble key information is supplied
to the descrambler 13 (a1), while data such as a program guide and
contract information is supplied to the system controller 14 (A2)
and then outputted from the decoder (B4) and displayed on the TV
screen. When there is age limit information in a program, this data
is also supplied to the system controller 14 (A2).
[0033] When the viewer chooses a program to be watched from the
program guide and selects it by the input unit 17, only the program
selected by the viewer is extracted by the tuner 12 by a control
signal outputted from the system controller 14 (B1) and data is
supplied to the descrambler 13. This data is encrypted by the
scramble key according to a fixed rule and outputted from the
decoder 11, so that the viewer can take pleasure in the selected
program on television.
[0034] Next, charge approval for program reception will be
explained. There is the amount information storage 24 in the IC
card 19 and when the viewer agrees with payment from the input unit
17 when the program is selected, the amount of charge is
automatically withdrawn from the storage 24 and the electronic
money information is sent to the management company and bank via
the amount approval processor 23, the system controller 14, and the
line controller 15.
[0035] When the balance in the IC card is shorted at the time of
charge approval, a control signal is supplied to the system
controller 14 from the amount approval processor 23. The data such
as an age limit of the selected program is supplied to the system
controller 14 from the scramble key & program information
decryptor 21 (A2) and the age information of the owner of the IC
card stored in the age information storage 26 is supplied to the
system controller 14 from the amount approval processor 23 at the
same time. Therefore, when the balance in the IC card is shorted or
a program selected by a viewer is under age limit, decryption by
the descrambler 13 is automatically prohibited by a control signal
(B2) outputted from the system controller 14 and the viewer cannot
watch the program. In this case, since the system controller 14
outputs the control signal (B3), the IC card 19 is automatically
ejected by the card controller 16 and the processing ends.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows the operation flow of the viewer in the
aforementioned embodiment. Discharge approval and age limit
mentioned above will be explained in detail using it.
[0037] When the viewer inserts the IC card 19 into the decoder 11
(Step 101), the program menu is displayed on the TV screen (Step
102). Thereafter, when the viewer selects a program to be watched
(Step 103), the amount of charge is displayed on the TV screen
(Step 104). When the viewer agrees with payment of the charge (Step
105), the amount of balance in the IC card is read (Step 106).
Next, whether the amount of charge can be paid from the amount of
balance or not is judged by the amount approval processor 23 (Step
107). If payment is impossible, a display of shortage of balance is
outputted from the system controller 14 (Step 115) and then the IC
card is ejected (Step 113) and the processing ends.
[0038] On the other hand, when payment is possible, the age
information in the IC card is read next (Step 108). Thereafter,
whether the age of the viewer is under age limit of the selected
program or not is judged by the system controller 14 (Step 109). If
the age is not under age limit, the balance in the IC card is
updated (Step 110) and then the data is decrypted by the
descrambler 13 and the scrambling is released (Step 111). If the
age is under age limit, an indication that audience is prohibited
due to an age limit is displayed on the TV screen (Step 116), and
then the IC card is ejected (Step 113), and the processing
ends.
[0039] When the program ends, a display of whether audience is to
be continued or not is outputted on the TV screen (Step 112). If
audience is to be continued, the program menu is displayed again
(Step 102). If audience is not to be continued, the IC card is
ejected (Step 113) and the processing ends.
[0040] As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the age information
of the owner of the IC card as well as the encryption key
information for releasing the scrambling of video, audio, and
control signal and the amount information for charge approval are
stored in one IC card, so that when the balance is shorted or the
age of the owner of the IC card is under age limit of the program,
the release of scrambling can be stopped automatically.
[0041] In the aforementioned embodiment, the amount of charge is
sent or received between the IC card of a viewer and the IC card of
the management company or bank. However, it is possible to set an
IC card in the decoder 11 and store sent electronic money in the
decoder once. The age limit information of the selected program is
sent as program information. However, it may be added to the output
signal of the video, audio, and control signal bank 2. In this
case, the system has a constitution that only the age limit
information among the data outputted from the descrambler 13 is
supplied to the system controller 14 and the other video, audio,
and control signal are stored in a buffer once and then outputted
from the decoder 11. Therefore, when audience is prohibited due to
an age limit, by stopping the operation of the buffer by a control
signal from the system controller 14, the output from the decoder
11 can be stopped.
[0042] Next, an embodiment of a vending machine using the present
invention is shown in FIG. 3. Also in this case, a charge is
approved by the account information in the IC card. In an alcoholic
drink or cigarette vending machine, by using age information of a
card owner stored in an IC card, selling to a minor can be stopped
automatically.
[0043] Numeral 30 indicates an IC card, 31 an account information
storage, 32 an ID information storage, 33 an age information
storage, 34 an amount approval processor, 35 a connector, 36 a
vending machine, 37 a display unit, 38 an input unit, 39 a
connector, 40 an amount approval processor, 41 a line controller,
42 a card controller, 43 a sales amount storage, and 44 a goods
pick up controller.
[0044] An example of a alcoholic drinks vending machine will be
explained hereunder. When a customer inserts the IC card 30 into
the vending machine 36 and selects a desired good from the input
unit 38, the amount of charge is withdrawn from the amount
information storage 31 in the IC card and the electronic money
information is stored in the sales amount storage 43 in the vending
machine. Thereafter, the sales amount is sent to the management
company and bank via the line controller 41.
[0045] When the balance in the IC card is shorted at the time of
charge approval or the age information stored in the age
information storage 33 is under age limit of a good, the control
signal (A2) is supplied to the goods pick up controller 44, so that
the goods pick up is automatically stopped. If this occurs, an
indication of transaction stop is displayed on the display unit 37
and the control signal (A1) is also supplied to the card controller
42 at the same time, so that the IC card 30 is automatically
ejected from the card controller 42 and the processing ends.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows the operation flow of the customer in the
aforementioned embodiment. Discharge approval and age limit
mentioned above will be explained in detail using it.
[0047] When the customer inserts the IC card 30 into the vending
machine 36 (Step 201) and selects a good to be purchased from the
input unit 38 (Step 202), the amount of charge is displayed on the
display unit 37 (Step 203). When the customer agrees with payment
of the charge (Step 204), the amount of balance in the IC card is
read (Step 205). Thereafter, whether the amount of charge can be
paid from the read amount of balance or not is judged by the amount
approval processor 40 (Step 206). If payment is impossible, a
display of shortage of balance is outputted (Step 214) and then the
IC card is ejected (Step 212) and the processing ends.
[0048] On the other hand, when payment is possible, the age
information in the IC card is read next (Step 207). Next, whether
the age of the customer is under age limit of the selected good or
not is judged by the amount approval processor 40 (Step 208). If
the age is not under age limit, the balance in the IC card is
updated (Step 209) and the purchased good is picked up (Step 210).
If a good is to be purchased continuously thereafter, the customer
selects the good once again (Step 202). If no good is to be
purchased, the IC card is ejected (Step 212) and the processing
ends. If the age is under age limit, an indication that audience is
prohibited due to an age limit is displayed (Step 215), and then
the IC card is ejected (Step 212), and the processing ends.
[0049] By doing this, for example, in an alcoholic drink vending
machine, when the balance is shorted or a minor attempts to buy an
alcoholic drink, the selling is automatically stopped.
[0050] Another embodiment of a vending machine using the present
invention is shown in FIG. 5 next. Numeral 45 indicates a ticket
issuer.
[0051] An admission ticket in a theater or recreation ground is
different in the amount of charge between a child and an adult. The
present invention can automatically discriminate a visitor and
collect the charge. In this embodiment, the IC card 30 is inserted
into the vending machine 36 and the amount of charge is cleared.
However, also in a system that just by using and passing a
non-contact IC card through the gate, the amount of charge is
cleared, the present invention can be executed.
[0052] FIG. 6 shows the operation flow of the customer in the
aforementioned embodiment. Discharge approval mentioned above will
be explained in detail using it.
[0053] When the customer inserts the IC card 30 into the vending
machine 36 (Step 301), the age information 33 in the IC card is
read first (Step 302). The amount approval processor 40 calculates
the amount of charge to be paid by the card owner from the age
information and displays the amount of charge on the display unit
37 (Step 303). When the customer agrees with payment of the
displayed charge (Step 304), the amount of balance in the IC card
is read next (Step 305). Thereafter, whether the amount of charge
can be paid from the read amount of balance or not is judged by the
amount approval processor 40 (Step 306). If payment is impossible,
a display of shortage of balance is outputted (Step 311) and then
the IC card is ejected (Step 309) and the processing ends.
[0054] On the other hand, when payment is possible, the balance in
the IC card is updated (Step 307) and an admission ticket is issued
(Step 308). Thereafter, the IC card is ejected (Step 309) and the
processing ends.
[0055] In the aforementioned embodiment, only one ticket of the
owner of the IC card can be purchased. If a plurality of tickets
are to be purchased, it is realized by designating the number of
tickets from the input unit 38.
[0056] Next, an example of updating of the age information in the
IC card will be explained by referring to FIG. 7. In the age
information storage in the IC card, a concrete age of the owner or
information such as teens or twenties is stored. However, to
protect the privacy of the owner, the present invention does not
store the information of date of birth. On the other hand, to open
a bank account, individual information such as date of birth is
registered in the bank, so that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7,
the age information in the card is compared and updated at the time
of access to the bank.
[0057] An example of a case that electronic money is paid in an IC
card will be explained. When a customer inserts the card into the
ATM of the bank (Step 401) or accesses the bank using the telephone
line, a code number is inputted first (Step 402) and the inputted
code number is displayed (Step 403). When the customer inputs the
amount to be withdrawn from the bank account (Step 404) next, the
amount is displayed (Step 405).
[0058] Then, the aforementioned code number is compared with the
code number registered in the bank (S406). When they are not
matched with each other, the IC card is ejected (Step 411) and the
processing ends. When they are matched with each other, whether
withdrawing from the account is possible or not is judged (Step
407). When payment is possible, the balance in the IC card and the
balance in the bank account are updated (Step 408) and then the age
information in the IC card is read (Step 409). On the other hand,
when payment is impossible, an indication that the account balance
is shorted is displayed (Step 413) and then the IC card is ejected
(Step 411) and the processing ends.
[0059] When the age information in the IC card is read, comparison
with the information of date of birth of the owner registered in
the bank starts. Only when correction is necessary, the age
information in the IC card is updated (Step 410). Thereafter, the
IC card is ejected (Step 411) and the processing ends.
[0060] By doing this, the age information of the owner in the IC
card is corrected only when the customer accesses the bank. It is
possible to store the information of date of birth in an IC card
and to compare and update the age always when a customer accesses a
device containing a clock such as an ATM in a bank or a POS
terminal in a store.
[0061] On the other hand, when the age information in an IC card is
made updatable as mentioned above, it may be considered that the IC
card is falsified dishonestly. Therefore, the age information in an
IC card is made unupdatable. However, it is possible to set a term
to the IC card itself and update the age information of the owner
at the time of updating of the card.
[0062] Next, an example of transmitting and receiving of data
between IC cards will be explained by referring to FIG. 8. In this
case, the basic data such as the ID No. and owner's name and age
and amount data such as an amount and encryption information
(encryption key) are stored in each IC card. When electronic money
is sent or received between IC cards, the aforementioned basic data
is exchanged between the paying side and the receiving side first
and the customer is ascertained (A). Thereafter, the information
such as the remittance of electronic money is encrypted using the
encryption key and the encrypted data is sent and received between
the paying side and the receiving side (B).
[0063] As mentioned above, when an amount is to be sent or
received, the age information of an owner is also transmitted
always, so that age limit and charge discrimination can be executed
automatically on the basis of this age information. It is possible
to add the age information to the ID number itself of the IC card
without storing the ID number and age data separately as mentioned
above.
[0064] Finally, another storing method of age information will be
explained by referring to FIG. 9. In the embodiments shown in FIGS.
1 to 8, the age information of a card owner is stored in the IC
card and a customer accesses the IC card and compares the age at
the time of transaction. However, it is also possible to store the
age information of a card owner in the bank or management company
and compare the age information by accessing the bank or management
company as required at the time of transaction. In the pay TV
broadcasting system shown in FIG. 9, the age information of a card
owner is supplied to the line controller 15 from the bank or
management company via the line. Thereafter, this age information
is supplied to the system controller 14, so that the operation of
the descrambler 13 can be stopped as required.
[0065] In this case, the individual information of the owner is not
stored in the IC card, so that the privacy of the card owner can be
protected when the IC card is lost. Furthermore, the information of
the card owner can be changed any time, so that it is possible to
add various data in addition to the age information of the card
owner, prevent dishonest use, for example, in case of card loss,
and stop the use of the card immediately when a person put on the
blacklist attempts to use the card. It is also possible to store
the card use status of every card owner in the bank or management
company and thus give various premium services to a customer using
the card frequently.
[0066] It is also possible to store the kind of license held by a
user and the distinction of sex in place of the age information. By
doing this, even a good requiring a specific license for purchase
can be transacted by an IC card.
[0067] According to the present invention, when electronic money
information as well as age information of a card owner are stored
in an IC card, it is possible to discriminate this age information
at the time of transaction and clear the charge. Therefore, in a
pay TV broadcast, when the balance in the IC card of a viewer is
shorted or the age of an owner of an IC card is under age limit of
a program, the release of scrambling can be stopped automatically.
Selling of alcoholic drinks or cigarettes to a minor can be also
prevented. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to
clearing of a railroad or bus fare or a theater entrance fee.
[0068] Furthermore, by use of status discrimination (guarantee)
information in addition to age information, prevention of dishonest
use in case of card loss and new individual services by the bank
and management company can be made possible.
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